Improvement in self-adjusting watch-keys



NAPETERS. f'HoTO-UTHCGRAPHER WASH NBTON D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BIRCH, .OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,836, dated April 13, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BIRCH, of the city of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Self-Adj Listing Watch-Key or Holding-Tool; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the instrument through its axis. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections through the lower and upper portions thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in so constructing a watch-key or instrument for holding small objects that it shall accommodate itself to the size of such object so as to hold it firmly and snugly, which is important in most of the manipulations connected with watch-work and the manufacturing and repairing of jewelry, and especially so for the windin g and setting of watch-movements, which are usually dissimilar in the sizes of the arbors, and yet in all cases, from the delicacy of the mechanism, requiring that the key should be an exact fit.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation.

I construct the forceps or points A A of the instrument of steel and in one piece with the jaws B B and shank G, making a thin portion in each of said jaws, as shown, which serve as springs to permit the opening and closing of the forceps; or either or both the jaws of the forceps may be hinged to the shank. The jaws B B are of parallel thickness, and are inclined to each other, being close together at their junction with the shank C, but sufficiently apart at their junction with the forceps A A to permit the presence of the pin D between them when the forceps are closed, the use of which pin D will be presently explained. I

inclose this portion of the instrument with the tube E, which is so proportioned in its interior size as to compress the two jaws B B of the forceps to their closest position when run up to the outer end of saidjaws. The pin D passes through the end of the tube E, and thus, when the latter is moved or slid toward the forceps A A, said pin will allow the jaws B to close, or, vice versa, by a backward or reverse movement of the tube, operates to distend them. To make this closing action automatic I place a spiral spring, F, within the tubc E and cause it to bear against a small disk of metal, G, which constitutes the end ofthe shank C, and also the tube L ofthe shank C, and also against an inner shoulder, H H, in said tube. I also make upon the exterior surface of the tube E a few beads or members, K K, for the convenience of holding the instrument by the ngers of the hand,while the thumb, bearing upon the disk G, presses the forceps outward, thus causing them to open to their widest capacity, and upon withdrawing the pressure from the disk G the forceps will immediately close upon the object or arbor and hold it securely. The tube L fits snugly upon the end of the tube E, yet so as to slide somewhat freely thereon. Upon this tube I form a watch-case opener, lVI, having a wedge-shaped end, thereby making the instrument more convenient and useful for jewelers as well as others.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The seltadjustingjaws B,formed or hinged upon the outer end of the shank O, and adapted to be distended by the pin D when the tube E is slid back upon the shank C and Spring F, substantially as herein set forth.

J. S. BIRCH.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. MGINTYEE, EDWARD LYON, Jr. 

